NEW GENERATION DEFINED -- April 15, 2010 Watchtower

From jw.org, here is the new definition of the Generation from the April 15, 2010 Watchtower.

Article: Holy Spirit’s Role in the Outworking of Jehovah’s Purpose

13 Third, holy spirit is at work in bringing Bibletruths to light. (Prov. 4:18) This magazine haslong been used by “the faithful and discreet slave”as the primary channel for dispensing increasedlight. (Matt. 24:45) For example, consider our understandingof those who make up “this generation”mentioned by Jesus. (Read Matthew 24:32-34.) To what generation did Jesus refer? The article“Christ’s Presence—What Does It Mean to You?”explained that Jesus was referring, not to the wicked,but to his disciples, who were soon to be anointedwith holy spirit. Jesus’ anointed followers, bothin the first century and in our day, would be the oneswho would not only see the sign but also discern itsmeaning—that Jesus “is near at the doors.”

14 What does this explanation mean to us? Althoughwe cannot measure the exact length of “thisgeneration,” we do well to keep in mind severalthings about the word “generation”: It usually refersto people of varying ages whose lives overlap duringa particular time period; it is not excessively long;and it has an end. (Ex. 1:6) How, then, are we tounderstand Jesus’ words about “this generation”?He evidently meant that the lives of the anointedwho were on hand when the sign began to becomeevident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of otheranointed ones who would see the start of the greattribulation. That generation had a beginning, and itsurely will have an end. The fulfillment of the variousfeatures of the sign clearly indicate that the tribulationmust be near. By maintaining your sense ofurgency and keeping on the watch, you show thatyou are keeping up with advancing light and followingthe leadings of holy spirit.—Mark 13:37.

WOW, they already gave themselves an "out." The anointed ones on the tail end of the "overlap" would see the START of the great tribulation. That means they can milk this for the rest of our lives then they can say when they want to that the tribulation has started.

By then, something different will come up. I like this for several reasons. It seems to intertwine their reasons for being wrong in the past and they think they are clever for doing that. But members will scratch their heads and be confused- many will question it enough to start looking for the door.

Question: Does this basically say the lifespan of the annointed from 1914 will overlap with the lives of the annointed who see the great trib? So that 2nd generation, who overlap with the 1914 generation will not pass away until all things occur?? This is getting muddy again.

Job 5:12-19 He aborts the schemes of conniving crooks, so that none of their plots come to term. He catches the know-it-alls in their conspiracies— all that intricate intrigue swept out with the trash! Suddenly they're disoriented, plunged into darkness; they can't see to put one foot in front of the other. But the downtrodden are saved by God, saved from the murderous plots, saved from the iron fist. And so the poor continue to hope, while injustice is bound and gagged. MSG

Where the fluck does this definition come from???.....and duh....so young peoples lives actually overlap with older people...imagine that...so how did this apply to the apostles generation???.....and with this stupid idea in place in 30 years they will say the generation just keeps on overlapping....duh.............i cant wait to email this to my dad!!!!...........oompa

You finally did it! You blew it up! Ham you! Ham you all to shell! I don't believe it. They really wiggled out of it. It's like politics, my gosh! Rather than just admit being wrong, submit to the guidance of the Bible and stop speculating about the end, they just found a new way to make it seem like they could predict it, narrow it down somehow. Perhaps, sadly, recent events are only helping solidify in people's minds the things they're being taught.

"Many will come on the basis of my name, saying, 'I am he', and, 'The due time has approached.' Do not go after them."--Luke 21:8

The first (of 3 and counting!) re-definition of "generation" in 1995 had a subtle, yet definite, effect on JW morale. That definition disconnected Armageddon from people alive in 1914, thus apparently pushing back Armageddon several years.

Since that time, the rate of baptisms has pretty steadly declined. The overall numbers keep going up, but the slope of the curve has changed.

Over the past couple of years, with a constant drumbeat of the "imminence" of Armageddon, they seemed to get a bit of their mojo back. After years of 1 or 2 % increases in the US, it's been 3 or 4 % recently. In Europe, after years of 0% or even "negative growth", rates inched up to + 1 or 2 %.

But now they come out with another article which, as I demonstrated above, clearly pushes back Armageddon even further - perhaps even decades.

What will be the effect of this article, once JWs absorb it?

I'd say, short term, not much. But as years pass, including the "100th anniversary of Christ's kingship" in 2014, I expect there will be an even more pronounced drain on morale.

By 2015 we might begin to see across-the-board negative numbers in JW year-over-year numbers (undoubtedly, to be soon followed by the cessation of publishing the reports).

and what about the fact that the scripture says that THE generation that sees ALL these things occur would not pass away before the end??????....the overlap people dont see jackshit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!arrrrrrrhgggggghhhhhhhh.....please tell me some will walk away from this crap!!....but i swear most wont even get it....or care...or question....or want to understand.....and they will be in service still using the reasoning book telling people the gen of 1914 is getting real old now and folks better hurry in to the jw bombshelter before armageddon blasts them into brdfood....(that by the way is the new tag on my motorcycle.....lol....brdfood!!!!...............oompa

“Christ’s Presence—What Does It Mean to You?”explained that Jesus was referring, not to the wicked,but to his disciples, who were soon to be anointedwith holy spirit. Jesus’ anointed followers, bothin the first century and in our day, would be the oneswho would not only see the sign but also discern itsmeaning—that Jesus “is near at the doors.”

GB, you scum, you all better hide under the tables with fear and trembling. Cause if Jesus is near the doors, he is going to sling those doors open like Clint Eastwood walking into a saloon.

Althoughwe cannot measure the exact length of “thisgeneration,” we do well to keep in mind severalthings about the word “generation”: It usually refersto people of varying ages whose lives overlap duringa particular time period; it is not excessively long;and it has an end.

It usually refers to people of varying ages whose lives overlap? According to who? Do twenty five year olds consider senior citizens part of their generation? Does the baby boomer generation consider teenagers a part of theirs? You have got to be kidding.....

How, then, are we tounderstand Jesus’ words about “this generation”?He evidently meant that the lives of the anointedwho were on hand when the sign began to becomeevident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of otheranointed ones who would see the start of the greattribulation.

This part makes me sick....first they ask "How are we to understand" They have tried to explain their understanding of this for 100 years, with several modifications of their "understanding" Each and every one has been 100% wrong. They they go on with one of their favorites "evidently" Absolutely laughable that they take credit for knowing exactly what Jesus was explaining.

By maintaining your sense ofurgency and keeping on the watch, you show thatyou are keeping up with advancing light and followingthe leadings of holy spirit.

Translation: Do more, shutup and keep following us and our advancing light. Following holy spirit? Puuuuuuleeeeeeaaasssssse...

Have they stopped calling it "new light"? Advancing light has a better ringtone, don'cha think?

I have to wonder if these yayhoos in N.Y. actually believe they are receiving this insight from Holy Spirit, or if they sit in a board room somewhere and discuss ways to wiggle out of the corner they have backed themselves into.....how can we keep this cushy gig going another 50 years?

Everything isaacaustin said is correct, even the "getting muddy" part.

Oh, I imagine they will trot out some ancient anointed one who is near or past 100 years old and put his/her lifestory in the Awake (or right in the WT) soon. That way, they can stretch the 1914 generation right up until NOW.